Young Crimewriters Competition

If you're 18 years old or younger, that’s the challenge issued to you by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA), which represents the interests of professionally published writers of crime fiction and non-fiction.

You have up to 1000 words to get the readers hooked, although you don’t have to write as much as that – perhaps you can create such a brilliant story that even 100 words will be enough to knock the judges dead…

Crime novels include a very wide variety of material – detective stories, creepy psychological thrillers, historical whodunits, spies, terrorist plots…

From cops and robbers to vigilantes and robots, the choice is yours. So write alone or write with a partner, but get writing now, because the closing date is 19 February and if your entry isn’t with your local library by that date, it won’t be included in the judging. Read the rules carefully and make sure you stick to them. If you’re short of inspiration, why not borrow some crime novels from the library and see how the professionals do it?

In April, all short listed entrants from your area will be invited to a regional award ceremony, taking place as part of the second  English Riviera Festival of Crime & Thriller Writing. this is when the name of the winning entry from Devon will be announced. That entry will go forward to the national shortlist, and the overall winner will be announced during National Crime Fiction Week in June.

If your entry is selected for the area shortlist, you will be notified no later than 5 April 2010. Good writing and good luck! You can pick up a copy of the entry form and rules in any Torbay Library.

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